Fall 2007 Course Schedule

Oil and Gas Law (LAW-685-001)
Day

Meets: 02:00 PM - 03:50 PM (M) - Room 500

Enrolled: 22 / Limit: 27

Administrator Access


Notices

Corrected syllabus posted May 2nd

Description

Oil & Gas Law is the study of the ownership, transfer, and development of oil and gas. The subject encompasses real and personal property, contracts, and government regulation in connection with the conservation of petroleum resources and the protection of the environment.

Economics, often ignored in other legal studies, plays a key role in oil and gas law and forms the basis whether a "reasonable prudent operator" has complied with the terms and implied covenants of an oil and gas lease. An "oil and gas lease" is a misnomer. It is not governed by landlord and tenant law, but is an agreement to develop the petroleum resources.

Geology and an understanding of how hydrocarbons are extracted from the earth are important elements of oil and gas law. "Courts are entitled to take judicial notice of the condition and development of the petroleum industry, and courts may also take judicial notice of matters of science and common knowledge and of the physical and economic law governing oil and gas production." Alphonzo E. Bell Corp. v. Bell View Oil Syndicate, 74 P.2d 166, 172 (Cal. 1938).

Five or ten minutes of each class will be devoted to current oil and gas prices (why they went up or down) and contemporary oil and gas issues. Students will not be held accountable for these discussions, but will find them useful topics at cocktail parties and make you appear astute when others complain about gasoline prices and Exxon ripping off the public.

Textbooks and Other Materials

The textbook information on this page was provided by the instructor. Students should use this information when considering purchases from the AU Campus Store or other vendors. Students may check to determine if books are currently available for purchase online.

First Class Readings

    Chapter 1:
  1. Section A - Omit.
  2. Section B - (a) Read. (b) Study. (c) Scan. (d) Study.

Syllabus

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